By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
CATTLE population in the country is expected to hit the five million mark by 2015, due to various measures to be taken by the Government.
Measures include the eradication of cattle diseases which have ravaged most parts of the country, thereby reducing cattle population.
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Robert Sichinga said Government was putting in place measures aimed at raising the national production of cattle in the country by 2015 looking at the potential the country has.
The national cattle population currently stands at 3.6 million countrywide but this would be doubled to five million by the year 2015.
He said areas with potential for cattle production have been mapped and audited to enahnce cattle production.
“The country cannot afford to import meat products when we have plenty of grazing areas for cattle and other domesticated animals, we need to be exporters,” he added.
Government was currently mapping the country and auditing farmers by registering them for the Government to know the activities of each and every farmer.
The move would ease the delivery of services to the farmers in the country by the Government.
